‘Courage and defiance’: female Guardian reporters on the women who inspired them

From an abortion rights campaigner in Poland to a protester in Myanmar, our correspondents choose some of the women they most admire to mark International Women's Day

Gender-based violence is not just something I cover at work; it has also deeply affected my life. In 2017, I lost two friends, who were murdered by men. Those experiences reinforced my desire to write about the experiences and perspectives of women in the countries I have covered in the Middle East; highlighting the remarkable strength and resilience of women and girls I have met in the region is a powerful antidote.